Interviews & Reviews

This is Seb Clarke - October 2007

The Interview

What is the history of the band and how did you come together?

Seb: I started on my own as a miserable sing song writer. Although I enjoyed it, I think it was too miserable and upset the audience (he laughs with a look on his face as if he wasn’t actually joking, and did upset his audience). Then basically a pianist said that my songs would sound really good with a saxophone, and another sax, and another, and another, then some drums, and even a bassist, and before we knew it we were a twelve man band. It kept expanding, and we had gone through sixty members in two years. We released the album two years ago.

How did that go?

Seb: It was brilliant (laughs), although I wish I had packed it in then. We played T in the Park, Love Box, Secret Garden.

What was your favourite gig?

Seb: Deep Percussion (mumbles of yes in the background from other band members), because there were loads of people watching and it felt like we were at Wembley (said with a big smile on face). The last one we played after Badly Drawn Boy, so we had impressed everyone to get that far.

Because there are so many of you, does this ever become a problem with decision making?

(Laugh from the band) Seb: Yes! We debate for a while.

Tim: Seb usually tells us what to do. (The other band members nod their heads in agreement).

Seb: Yes, I’d like to call myself the Brian Clough of rock and roll!

Speaking of comparisons, as a band you were compared to having the energy, rhythm and soul of Tina Turner. Do you think this is true?

Seb: Well, we are simply the best (laughs, but almost cringing at his joke). Well we have the energy, rhythm and soul of the Tina Turner and Ike days, but we are more compared to The Clash, and we’re not new metal.

One of the band member shouts: AND WE ARE NOT EMO!

Seb: We’re more northern soul.

 

The Gig

This Is Seb Clarke, and this is their review. Three saxaphones, two trumpets, a guitarist, bassist, pianist, and Seb Clarke himself. That was the band for Sunday afternoon at The Lazarette Festival.

The festival was an accumulation of new, old, funky, soul, electro and dance music. For me, This Is Seb Clarke were the highlight of my experience. They were unlike anything I had ever seen before. They oozed energy onstage, which bounced off everyone, and you couldn’t help but bop up and down, sway side to side and clap your hands until they went red, and dance until you went as sweaty as they were.

Whilst one did a solo the others would watch, dance and admire. Then they would all come together like a big orgasm of sound, which made me wander why they haven’t received the recognition that they deserve.
Everything was perfect about their sound, nothing was out of tune, they were all in rhythm, and the audience looked like they were having the time of their lives.

Even though the band is named after the frontman Seb Clarke, there was no heirachy, as they all performed to the same standard, and appeared that they were loving every moment of it, as was I.
I spoke to a girl after the gig to see what she thought, and she said she “didn’t enjoy it because she was more into her electro-house music”, bla bla bla, and I thought “ok, everyone has their own opinions, but in this case, you’ve got to be an idiot to not like them!” Tool.

 

Selina Orrell